Blowback autoloading pistol



w. B. RUGER BLOWBACKZ AUTOLOADING PISTOL Oct. 20, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 5, 1946 INVENTOR MLL/AM a. R0651! 7 BY WEJmndaf/n/MYM'ATTCRNEYS Oct. 20, 1953 w. B. RUGER BLOWBACK AUTOLOADING PISTOL 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1946 Filed Nov. 5, 1946 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR s 6 n m p Wm f n m L M Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATESOFFICE BLOWBACK AUTOLOADING PISTOL Application: November 1946, SerialNo. 707,773

4'Olaims. (Cl. 89-196) This invention relatesto pistolsand has forltsobject the. provision of an improved autoloading pistol, andparticularly an improvedautoloading pistol of the blowback type; In itsmore general aspects my invention provides anewconstruction andarrangement of elements'by means of which I am able to produceapistol'from readily avail-'- able stock materials atlcomparativelylow'costs. I am able to produce an autoloadi'ng pistol'with a minimum ofthe expensive breaching and milling now required in fashioning the gripand receiver.

In one of itsembodiments my'invention provides a grip member for anautoloading. pistol comprising two complementary mating half parts whichare welded together to form a unitary structure. I form the two halves.of the grip member from sheet metal, forexample sheet steel, by drawing,pressing. or stampingand I weld them together along theircontaotingedgesthus providing a grip member. with means for the triggerguard and trigger mechanism, a space in the grip for a box-magazine,means for mounting the hammer and sear assembly, and means for, re-.-ceiving and securing the receiver and barrel to the grip member.

In another aspect, my invention provides an improved receiver forautoloadingpi'stols.of'the blowback type, preferably formedofstocktubing, and a breech bolt of cylindrical exterior shapereciprocable in the cylindrical space in the tubular receiver. Thebreech bolt of my invention comprises an upright longitudinal. guideslot which serves a triple function; namely, aspace for the swinging oithe hammer, a guide means forretainingthe bolt in a-non-turningposition,and a means for engaging astop member to limit the movement of thebolt,and particularly to arrest its rearward travel. In an'advantageousconstruction of my pistol, .I employ a stop mem-. her which is inserted.through the. slotandlwhich serves to effect an engagement between thereceiver and the grip member,v thereby securing those members togetherat the rear andforming an unyielding block for stopping the bolt. at theend of its ejection stroke. The stopmembermay also be used as a supportfor the action spring,

Another embodiment of the invention. comprises an improvedhammer andsear assembly, andfina present preferred construction .Imount theseelements in a housing which is removahly insertedinto thehollowspaoeofthe grip member as a unit. I may so form this housing ofsheet metal as to provideclearance spaces for a safety, a means forattaching thereto. the sear spring, a meansfor limitingthe movement.ofithe trigger rod, and also a projection which is the ejector fortheejection of the empty cartridge cases.

My invention provides a very simple latching means in combination withthe grip member and receiver for releasablysecuringthe front of the gripmember to the receiver. I form a projecting lug on the trigger guardwith an arcuate slot of suchproportions and spacing as to receive anedge portion of the under side of the receiver cylindrical wall. Theforward end of the receiver, accordingly, is secured to the front of thegrip member by insertion of the receiver edge portion'in the arcuate'slot on the lug. The heel of the grip member is secured to the receiverby abolt.

My invention provides an improved safety which locks the-sear andalso'the bolt preventingthe bolt from being pulled-rearwardly when inthe safe position.

These andother novel featuresof the invention will be better understoodafter considering the following discussion taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is'a side elevation of an autoloading pistol with parts showninsection embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a' view of thepistol from the rear;

Fig; 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, with parts in section; from theopposite side of that shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the safety;

Fig. i'is'a' view ofthe receiver from above;

Fig. 5 isa sectional view along line 5-5. of Fig. 6;'

Fig. 6' is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showingthehammer in cocked position with the bolt'in position for firing;

Fig, 7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6 showing the bolt at the endof its ejection stroke;

Fig. 8 is a side view oftheibolt;

Fig. 9' isan endview of Fig, v8;

Fig. 1.0 is an enlarged sectional view alongthe line. [OT-l0 of" Fig. 6with the hammer omitted;

Fig, llis a sideview of the receiver;

Fig. 12 is a, view from below of the receiver;

Fig. 13' is a perspective of the grip member Fig. 14 is a view fromabove of the trigger assembly. with the receiver removed;

Fig..l5 is: a fragmentary. side view of Fig. 14, with parts insection,.illustrating the. trigger and hammer assemblies;

Fig. 16 is a perspective of the hammer and sear assembly housing;

Fig. 1.7 is.a perspective of the sear;

Fig. 18' is a fragmentary side elevation of a modification;

Fig. 19'is'a perspectiveof the trigger guard connecting lugs for themodification of Fig. 18, and

Fig. is a modified form of barrel.

The autoloading pistol illustrated in the drawings comprises a receiverl preferably formed of stock tubular steel, a barrel 2 threaded into thereceiver in the usual manner and a grip member 3 formed of twocomplementary pressed, molded, or otherwise formed metal mating halfparts 4 and 5 welded together along the vertical center line 6 (Fig.13).

The trigger guard 7 may be integral with the grip member or a separatepiece connected thereto by the pins 8 and 9, as shown in Fig. 1. Ahollow space in the grip member receives the magazine l2, sear, and thetrigger and hammer assemblies. The exterior has the usual grip stocks l3and I4 attached thereto. ing [5 for the hammer I6 and sear I1 is formedof bent sheet metal, as best shown in Fig. 16. The holes [8 coincidewith holes [9 in the grip member and receive a pin 22 which not onlypivotally connects the hammer to the housing but secures the housing tothe grip member. The holes 23 coincide with holes 24 in the grip memberand receive a pin 25 which pivotally connects the sear to the housingand secures the housing in position in the grip member. The upper frontedge 26 of the housing is the ejector and the notches 27 provideclearance for the trigger rod (Fig. 15) later to be described.

The hammer I6 is pivotally connected by pin 28 to the angular strut 29which passes down through the grip member behind the magazine partition,the lower end of which is cut down to a small diameter to provide ashoulder 32 and follower rod 33 for the hammer spring 34. The magazineis held in position by a catch 35 which has a transverse plate 36 withan opening in the center through which the follower rod passes, aconnecting bar 31 pivotally connected to the grip member to one side ofthe follower rod by the pin 38, and a knurled button 39 on theprojecting end. The hammer spring bears against the shoulder 32 on oneend and against the transverse plate 36 on the other end, and since thepin 38 is. off to one side, the magazine catch is pressed by the springcounterclockwise as the gun is seen in Fig. 1. The hammer springaccordingly serves a double function; it operates the hammer and themagazine catch.

Fig. 6 shows the hammer in its cocked position ready to fire with thesear I1 holding the hammer.

As best shown in Fig. 1'7, the sear comprises the hammer catch 4|, a lug42 for engaging the safety, a head 43 for engaging the trigger rod, anda trigger rod disconnecter slot 44. As shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 15, thesear pivots on pin 25 and is urged in a counterclockwise direction, asseen in Figs. 6 and '7, by the coil spring which has one arm bearing onthe housing and the other arm bearing on the sear. This rear springmoves the 'sear into catching engagement with the hammer.

The trigger assembly is best shown in Figs. 6, '7, 14 and 15 andcomprises the trigger 45 which is pivoted to the receiver by the pin 46,a trigger rod 47 which is pivoted to the trigger by the pin 48, and acoil spring 49 mounted over the pin 46 having one arm 52 in the form ofa loop bearing upon the heel 53 of the trigger to apply trigger tension,and two arms 54 inserted through holes 55 in the trigger rod to hold thesear-engaging end upward. The-triggerrodis' in the form of a looppassing on bothsides of the magazine The housand slopes upwardlyproviding the inclined surfaces 56 for connection with a cam surface onthe bolt which is a disconnecter for the trigger. The flat lateral bar57 behind the sear has a depending lug 58 which engages the head 43 ofthe sear for operating the sear to release the hammer but which can movethrough the slot 44 in the sear without operating it when the triggerrod is cammed down to prevent automatic firing, as will later beexplained.

In order to provide clearance for the movement of the trigger in themodification of Fig. 1, the receiver and barrel have an arcuate undercut59.

The receiver I, preferably formed of stock steel tubing, is threaded atone end to receive the barrel 2 in the usual way. The grip member hasoutwardly flared and arcuately shaped lips 62 and 63 (Fig. 10) which fitthe cylindrical curvature of the tubular receiver and provide bearingsurfaces against which the receiver may be held firmly to the gripmember. At the forward end of the receiver, in the modification of Fig.1, a thick shortscrew 63 connects the receiver to the grip member, andat the rear end of the receiver, the pin 64 and cylindrical nut 65connect the receiver to the grip member.

The receiver, as best shown in Figs. 11 and 12, has an undercut 66 formovement of the hammer, trigger rod and clearance for the magazine, anejection port 67 at one side, holes 66 and 69 for the pin 64, and sideslots 12 and 73 for the bolt grips. A rear sight 74 may be attached inany suitable manner to the receiver.

The breech bolt 89 is formed of cylindrical steel stock and is slidablein the cylindrical central space of the receiver. The underside of thebolt has a cut 8| (Fig. 9) to clear the magazine and a. out along thecontour 82 (Fig. 8) to provide a space 83 for the bar 51 of the triggerrod to rise into so that the lug 58 can engage the head 43 of the searwhen in the firing position shown in Fig. 6, and an inclined or camsurface 84 which engages the inclined surfaces 56 on the trigger rodwhen the bolt moves rearward to press the trigger rod downward when thebolt is open, as shown in Fig. '7, to disconnect the trigger rod fromthe sear leaving the sear free to engage the hammer. Along the contour82, a notch 85 is formed to receive a projection from the safety member,later to be described.

, As shown in Fig. 5, the breech bolt has a longitudinal and verticallydisposed slot 86 which is the same width as the blocking pin 64 and thelength of the slot is approximately the length of the travel of thebolt. The bolt is, accordingly, held against turning by the pin and thepin serves the important function of a block for the rearward travel ofthe bolt, An additional cut 81 is made around the slot 86 of a widthsufiicient to receive the ring 98 of the follower rod '89 for the actionor return spring 92. In the reciprocable movement of the bolt,therefore, there is sufficient clearance above the slot 86 in the cut 87for the ring 88; Contiguous with the vacce ses;

As shown in Figs. 6 and "I, the action spring lies directly over thefiring pin. The firing pin has apair of ears 99 and I (Fig. which'slide'in an undercut IOI and the-firing pin is'thereby guided in its shorttravel and prevented from rising. A retaining pin I02 enters the cut 93and engages the ear I00 on the rearward side, preventing the firing pinfrom being moved too far rearward. The front part of the breech bolt iscut out to receive the extractor I00 pivotall-y connected to the bolt bythe pin I04. A diagonal hole is bored through the breech bolt to receivethe spring I05, one end of whichbears against the ear 99 holding thefiring pin rearward, and the other end of which bears against the armI06 of the ejector to hold the hookof the ejector behind the rim of thecartridge.

The pistol is provided with "a safety IIO (Figs. 3, Sand comprising abutton III which may be moved in the short space I I 2in the gripmemherand a locking member II4 having a lug II5 which enters the cut 85 in thebreech bolt when in the safety position, preventing the breech bolt frombeing pulled rearward, and a depending lug I I6 which hooks over theshoulder 42 on the sear preventing the trigger from operating the searto release the hammer.

In the modification shown in Figs. 18 and 19, the trigger guard I20 hasan upwardly extending lug I2I having a hole I22 therethrough forattachment by means of the pin I23 to the front end of the receiver, andan arcuate cut I24. The lug I2I projects through the undercut I25 in thereceiver and the cylindrical edge I26 on the receiver slides into thearcuate cut I24 which has the same radius of curvature as the receiver.In this manner the front of the grip member is detachably connected tothe front of the receiver. The trigger guard has another hole I21 bymeans of which it is attached by a screw or rivet I28 to the gripmember. In order to provide clearance for the lug I2I, a space I28 mustbe cut in the under surface of the barrel.

In the modification of Figs. 18 and 19, it is only necessary to unscrewthe nut 65 from the pin 64, remove the pin 64, and then pull thereceiver forward in order to remove the receiver from the grip member.

Fig. 20 is a modified form of barrel. In order to provide a clearancefor receiving the lug I2I, the barrel is turned down to form an annulargroove I29.

The pistol of the invention is operated as follows: When a magazinecontaining cartridges is inserted into the grip member, the catch snapsunder the heel of the magazine and holds it in position, as shown inFig. 1. To load a cartridge into the barrel chamber, it is onlynecessary to grasp the ribbed ears 9'! and 90 on the bolt between thethumb and forefinger and pull the bolt rearward. The action spring 92 iscompressed while the breech bolt is guided in its rearward travel by thepin 64. When the bolt reaches the end of its stroke, a cartridge ispressed into position by the magazine and when the bolt is released theaction spring drives it forward throwing the cartridge into the barrelchamber. The rearward movement of the bolt turns the hammercounterclockwise to its cocked position shown in Fig. '7. After the boltreverses its motion and travels forward a, short distance permitting thehammer to turn clockwise a short distance, the sear I'I engages thehammer and secures it in its cocked position (Figs. 6 and 7). When thebolt is completely forward the coil spring 40 holds the trigger rod 4.!upward on the rear end so that the lug 58 can engage the head 43 andmove the sear forward against spring 50 when the trigger is pulled,thereby releasing the hammer. The hammer swings against-the firing pinin the usual way driving it .against the cartridge primer. As a resultof the explosion, the breechbolt is driven rearward, the hook of -theejector I02 supporting the empty case, as it leaves the chamber. Thebreech bolt moves only a short distance rearward when the cam surface'84 engages the inclined surfaces 56 and the rearward end of the triggerrod is depressed to a point where the lug 58 is in alignment with theslot 44 of the sear. In this position the sear is free to swing and takea position ready to catch the hammer. These disconnecter means preventthe gun from operating as a full automatic and permit the sear to engagethe hammer, even though the trigger be 'held and, require -that thetrigger be "released and pulled for each shot. Near'the end oftherearward travel of the breech bolt, the cartridge butt strikes theprojecting extractor 26 and is ejected through the port 61.

I claim:

1. An improved autoloading pistol of the blowback type which comprises agrip member, a tubular receiver secured to the barrel, a hammer in thegrip member, said grip member having 1ongitudinal bearing edges on itsopposite sides which engage the tubular receiver, means for securing thetubular receiver to the grip member, a cylindrical breech bolt in thereceiver, an upright slot in the breech bolt, said hammer being arrangedto swing into said slot, a pin in the slot coupling the receiver to thegrip member which not only guides but stops rearward travel of the bolt,and an action spring with one end bearing against the bolt and the otherend bearing against the pin.

2. An improved autoloading pistol of the blowback type which comprises agrip member, an annular tubular receiver secured to the barrel, saidgrip member being shaped to engage the tubular receiver exteriorly,transverse holes in the receiver and a coincident hole in the gripmember, a bar in the holes for securing the tubular receiver to the gripmember, a cylindrical breech bolt in the receiver, an upright slotthrough the breech bolt, said bar passing through the slot guiding thebreech bolt in a non-turning operative position and serving as a stopfor the rearward travel of the bolt.

3. An improved autoloading pistol of the blowback type which comprises agrip member, an annular tubular receiver secured at one end to thebarrel which is open at its opposite rearward end, said grip memberbeing shaped to engage the receiver exteriorly, a breech bolt in thereceiver the rearward end of which extends through the rearward open endof the receiver when the breech bolt is closed and also when it is open,grip means on the rearward end of the breech bolt for pulling itrearward by hand to cock the hammer, an upright slot through the breechbolt, an upright bar secured in the rearward end of the receiver, saidbar passing through the slot to guide the breech bolt in a slidable butnon-turnable operative movement in the receiver and also to serve as astop for the rearward travel of the breech bolt.

4. An improved autoloading pistol of the blowback type which comprises agrip member formed of two complementary mating half parts which areformed of sheet metal and welded to- ,7 'gether to form a unitarystructure, a tubular receiver which is cylindrical inside and outsidesecured to the barrel, a cylindrical breech bolt in the receiver, afiring pin, a hammer pivotally mounted to swing against the firing pin,the breech bolt extending through the rearward end of the receiver, bothin its rearward and firing positions and serving as a closure for thereceiver, the breech bolt having hand grip means on the rearward end forpulling the breech bolt rearward to cook the hammer, means for guidingthe breech bolt in a slidable but non-turnable position, and means forremovably securing the tubular receiver to the grip member at theforward and rearward ends.

WILLIAM B. RUGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNumber Number 20 116,434

Name Date Fyrberg July 28, 1914 Diehm July 9, 1918 Wesson Jan. 7, 1919Guyot June 29, 1920 Pomeroy June 21, 1921 Stokke Jan. 10, 1922 HinesJuly 3, 1923 Diehm Oct. 14, 1924 Loomis Dec. 1, 1981 Savage Nov. 15,1938 Rickenbacher Jan. 19, 1943 Gorton July 18, 1944 Sampson et a1. July2, 1946 Delsole May 27, 1947 Pope Aug. 17, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS CountryDate Australia Aug. 26, 1948

